First responders honored; Council tackles speeding issue
Most of the Demopolis City Council meeting Thursday focused on traffic and safety issues on downtown streets, but before the Council took up business, Demopolis first responders were honored by the VFW Post 5377.
DeMarcus Johnson and Josh Ochiltree were named Demopolis’ Firefighter and Policeman of the Year respectively. In addition, Post Surgeon Phillip Spence announced Ochiltree received the J. Edgar Hoover Award for the State of Alabama, the first time such an honor has been awarded to a Demopolis policeman by the VFW.
Harold Park, who has appeared frequently before the Council concerning truck traffic and speeding vehicles along Walnut Street, complimented the Council on how the number of trucks has been reduced although not eliminated. However, he questioned councilmen on their efforts to reduce speeding.
He said at the Jan. 21 meeting the issue was brought before the Council who promised it would work on a plan to reduce speeding. Park asked if such a plan has been devised since no one had been told of any action.
Police Chief Rex Flowers said he is expecting federal money to come in to purchase radar equipment “any day,” and he hoped to have it implemented within a month. Park countered by saying if the radar equipment doesn’t work, the Council “needs to start thinking about Plan No. 2 and, if it’s necessary, Plan No. 3.”
“The primary goal of this Council is the safety of the community,” Collins told Park. He said Park was fortunate that he lived in an area with sidewalks, citing other areas of the city that have traffic problems. “We can’t put all our resources on one street.”
The Council approved a motion authorizing Mayor Woody Collins to sign an FAA grant to fund the Julian D. “Buzz” Sawyer Airfield terminal building.
In the work session prior to the meeting, airport manager Jason Pendergrass said the new brick terminal would be about 2,500 square feet, and, while “nothing fancy,” the building would “meet needs for the long term.”
A pre-bid meeting for prospective contractors was held earlier in the day. If all goes as planned, groundbreaking should begin in August, said Pendergrass.
“We would never be as far along as we are without your support,” he told the council. The terminal will be the nicest for any town the size of Demopolis, he added.
The Council passed two budget adjustments. When the Public Works Department cleaned out the Public Square fountain recently, it collected $60 and asked that the money be placed in its budget.
The second adjustment was to the Police Department $196.50 for overtime.
The mayor and councilmen joined in thanking all the city’s departments for the work they did and are continuing to do in response to the severe weather the city went through Tuesday night.
“I’ve had nothing but accolades, pats on the back, phone calls,” said Collins. “We all owe each and every one of these people a thank you. They made the city look good, and they made this Council look good.”
*The city recently set up a dedicated phone line for residents to use when they need yard trash picked up. Collins asked that they continue to do so during storm debris removal but to make sure they give a name and phone number to be reached.